Cough and its importance in COPD

Patients with COPD most frequently complain of breathlessness and cough and these are both increased during exacerbations. Studies have generally focused on quality of life during end-stage disease, where breathlessness becomes dominant and cough less important. There are very little data on the frequency and severity of cough in COPD or its impact on quality of life at different stages of disease. Little is known about the factors that influence objective cough counts in COPD. Cough may be a marker for progressive disease in milder COPD patients who continue to smoke, and it may be useful in case-finding for milder disease in the community. The cough reflex sensitivity is heightened in COPD compared with healthy volunteers and similar to that in subjects with asthma. The degree of airflow obstruction does not predict cough reflex sensitivity or objective cough counts, implying an independent process. Effective treatments for cough in COPD have not yet been identified. Improved outcome measures of cough, a better understanding of cough in the natural history of COPD, and its importance to patients are needed

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd

HIV Testing and PrEP Use in a National Probability Sample of Sexually Active Transgender People in the United States.

BACKGROUND:HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are effective HIV prevention strategies often underutilized by transgender people. METHODS:Recruitment occurred in two phases to identify transgender respondents in a probability sample of adults in the United States. Transgender respondents completed a self-administered paper or web-based survey designed to assess transgender population health. Sexually active respondents (HIV-negative and had sex in the 5 years prior, N = 190) and a subsample of those at risk for sexual HIV acquisition (sex with cisgender men or transgender women, n = 120) were included in analyses. RESULTS:Of the full sample of sexually active respondents, those who were transfeminine were less likely to be familiar with PrEP; most (72%) reported favorable attitudes towards PrEP. Of those at risk for HIV acquisition, 28% had never tested for HIV. Respondents of color were more likely than white respondents to meet CDC recommendations for HIV testing. Respondents who met CDC recommendations for HIV testing were more likely to report looking online for LGBT or transgender health information. Few respondents reported currently taking PrEP (3%); those who reported higher levels of non-affirmation of their gender identity were less likely to currently use PrEP. DISCUSSION:These findings may indicate some success of HIV testing outreach programs that prioritize people at higher risk for acquiring HIV, focusing on those who are vulnerable to structural marginalization. Ongoing public health efforts are needed to increase HIV testing and PrEP awareness among transgender adults, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV

HIV Testing and PrEP Use in a National Probability Sample of Sexually Active Transgender People in the United States.

BACKGROUND:HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are effective HIV prevention strategies often underutilized by transgender people. METHODS:Recruitment occurred in two phases to identify transgender respondents in a probability sample of adults in the United States. Transgender respondents completed a self-administered paper or web-based survey designed to assess transgender population health. Sexually active respondents (HIV-negative and had sex in the 5 years prior, N = 190) and a subsample of those at risk for sexual HIV acquisition (sex with cisgender men or transgender women, n = 120) were included in analyses. RESULTS:Of the full sample of sexually active respondents, those who were transfeminine were less likely to be familiar with PrEP; most (72%) reported favorable attitudes towards PrEP. Of those at risk for HIV acquisition, 28% had never tested for HIV. Respondents of color were more likely than white respondents to meet CDC recommendations for HIV testing. Respondents who met CDC recommendations for HIV testing were more likely to report looking online for LGBT or transgender health information. Few respondents reported currently taking PrEP (3%); those who reported higher levels of non-affirmation of their gender identity were less likely to currently use PrEP. DISCUSSION:These findings may indicate some success of HIV testing outreach programs that prioritize people at higher risk for acquiring HIV, focusing on those who are vulnerable to structural marginalization. Ongoing public health efforts are needed to increase HIV testing and PrEP awareness among transgender adults, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV